Living on Less and Serving with Less

It is already the second month into my second year of service. Where has the time gone? Where has the funding gone?

My name is Michael Shank, and I am an AmeriCorps member serving as a Homeless Prevention Assistant with the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency. Recently, it would seem, the agency I serve with seems to have committed out the short/medium term housing assistance funding we have for 10/11. This has not yet been confirmed, but in any case we are facing what seems to be an ever increasing amount of need (in part due to the time of year, but also in part to the general state of the economy perhaps) while at the same time experiencing a minimum of funding. So, how could/should an AmeriCorps member, service worker, or agency respond?

So far my agency partners and I have discussed how to tailor our initial triage information and referral to the current state of things. Yet, how often do we have clients return after pursuing many of the avenues we have suggested (DHS, Salvation Army, faith community, etc), only to explain that there was not funding available.

In addition, we have also discussed how to adapt our case management services to the present situation, the focus often being how to gain or increase income to support housing. Yet what we continue to find (as you may also, is that there is often many underlying barriers to obtaining employment or increasing income, both intrinsic and extrinsic, whether due to the economy or due to choice or circumstance). Three areas have stood out to us as potential areas to focus our energies, especially when we are unable to provide any financial forms housing of assistance: (1) How can we address the life skills needs of those in need in a short or medium term fashion? Is there any other agency/organizations that are doing this in our own area? What are the gaps? Are there any model agencies or organizations that are already doing this that we can learn from? (2) What are some innovative ways that our clients can earn income or supplemental income (cutting wood, selling their own produce, etc)? (3) What are some common sense and innovative ideas for downsizing and living on less?

In times of economic stagnation we not only have to live on less money, but we also have less money to serve with. Any, ideas, thoughts, suggestions, or related discussion would be greatly appreciated on how we can live and serve on less effectively!